The Changing world of RV-ing

[fishslayer]

Don't tell anyone but I've been known to remove the tag from my mattress too.

 

[Raydawg]

That's only defensive driving. Here in the DFW, where driving is largely an act of war, you learn to expect a lot of different styles of driving, it's nothing personal. And yeah, if you're going to cruise in the right lane ( lanes in the DFW) expect the worst and hope for the best or in other words expect to have to let some drivers merge. It's best not to use your brakes here as it sets off panic rearward, but to just ease back on the acceleration a bit.

You bet its defensive driving......its the ONLY control I have in an uncontrollable situation.
The truth and awareness of this technique was really driven home (pun intended) when out of necessity I needed to ride a motorcycle to work. I had to take a class to get the endorsement on my drivers license.
What I was taught and learned has saved my bacon many times while commuting back when I rode.
Once retired my wife begged me to sell the bike because it caused her much worry, I did of course because I am a henpecked pecker

Now, here is a TRUE example of how that teaching paid off years later while pulling my trailer.
I was on a two lane highway going down a bending downgrade road that had a side street that enter on the right (my side).
Cars were backed up as a big truck was having a hard time finding that break in traffic where he could safely enter, which was to go across my lane with a lefthand turn and head toward me.

I saw he was going to finally get that chance as I started down this grade......
I wouldn't need to adjust my driving as he had enough time and space to achieve his actions into the traffic lane.
But then I saw the cars behind him starting to aggressively jockey into what I was perceiving a position to push that opening into traffic as their opportunity too....

The first car made it without much ado, but the woman driving the second car was slower and not as nimble, and I knew I had to start slowing down NOW or she would slow me greatly when I t-boned her.

Because I took control of the situations when I still could, I missed her rear bumper by a few feet.
I never had to swerve or hard break, and I almost swear my wife looked over at me white as a ghost and was going to say..... "You can have your bike back" almost

Now, were those following me pissed that I slowed down and made their commute a few seconds longer?

I don't really give a ratz arse if they do.....because I saved mine, my wife's, and that stupid woman who created the dangerous situations to begin with.

Yeah.....write me a ticket, please......

 

[osuallen]

That would be great if traffic moved consistently at one speed. And because it doesn't, I believe it is impossible to stay legal. One of my biggest issues is people merging. I tend to stay in the right lane when possible as I normally keep my speed at around 100K (a little under 65 mph). If there is room for me to switch to the left to let folks merge, I will gladly accommodate. If there isn't, I am at the mercy of those idiots that don't understand the logic of "getting up top speed" . It frustrates the $hit out of me when I have to slow down and worse when they see me beside them and they hit the brakes even more. My favorite saying for those that don't know where the accelerator pedal is. Drive it or park it a$$hole.

Failure to safely merge at highway speed is one of my biggest pet peeves.

Sorry - I think we have strayed pretty far from the OPs original topic.

 

[TR25]

Some of these content creators do VERY well for themselves, the one's that don't get sorted out.

I'm sure some make a lot of cash videoing their lifestyle in RV-ing, just like some do in makeup, or any of the other vids that get paid for the amount of eyes that were on it.
What I find interesting is how a lot of the vids seem to focus on RVing as a way to save money. In the short term, possibly, especially if one already has an RV/van and it's paid for...but not an inexpensive way to live at all IMHO.
Why? Look at the cost of a campsite. Just saw one earlier online for 1400/month. I have a house and all my bills only comes to 1K/mo. So I wonder about the goals of those who do the rv thing as in living in one.
eating is more expensive as is maint vs a house. I bet a lot aren't full timers.

the absolute lowest way to do rv living for less, on the cheap is in the vanlife. And for that, you have to have the ability to stealth camp, overnite. I did that as I worked travelling doing construction. Can't see how someone can live in a van for 5-10 years and want to continue living like that. It's hard and you don't have much at all.

And with the endless "vanlife! is great/cheap" vids out there, I assume some are making money doing it. Most of the rest I assume are just doing it because they have no other options--see cheap rv living yt for the various people. I don't see them having a plan, so I don't see them going anywhere but down as Mr Time never stops and if one pulls out of the world/workforce, the longer they're gone, the more stale they become.

Combing the two you have people with big RVs who 'boondock', aka use public lands to camp on for free. That's gotten harder and harder because--thanks to vids of how great/cheap it is--more and more land is getting shut down to that. Why? Abuse, people trash it.

I saw national forest areas getting shut off due to that going back into the 90s...and it's just gotten worse. The only places that are safe from that are basically the desert where no one wants to be, human or critter. But it's cheap living!

Finally, from 2018 on, it seems as though the rv mfgrs have turned out pretty lousy, overpriced product. Same with vehicles. Way overpriced junk. Both of these will also continue to have a huge impact too. Can't do "cheap/less expensive" living in astronomically priced junk that breaks down all the time.

This spring should be interesting. Out west w/more public land is where all the vagrants like to go so an interesting mix of RVers.

Me? don't know what I'm going to do about the rv life.